A History of Traditional Music - Part 1 -How old is traditional music? An exploration of the earliest sources and the society in which dance music, harp music, and song combined into “ancient music”with Dr Martin Dowling.

This series of lectures will trace the history of Irish traditional music from the eighteenth century to modern times. It will feature discussion of the main instruments, the great collectors and their collections, the impact of social, economic, technological, and political change on music, and will feature recordings and performances on the fiddle too! The material is based on Dr. Martin Dowling’s book Traditional Music in Irish Society: Historical Perspectives (2014).

Trained Violin maker and restorer Gerry O'Connor will run a fiddle maintenance clinic. He will discuss the names of parts of the fiddle, how to tune a fiddle, how to change the strings on a fiddle & cleaning your fiddle. He will also demonstrate how to rehair & look after your bow.

Bunting, Petrie, O’Neill, and Breathnach, their lives, times and the music they saved with Dr Martin Dowling

This series of lectures will trace the history of Irish traditional music from the eighteenth century to modern times. It will feature discussion of the main instruments, the great collectors and their collections, the impact of social, economic, technological, and political change on music, and will feature recordings and performances on the fiddle too! The material is based on the book Traditional Music in Irish Society: Historical Perspectives (2014).

Úna Monaghan is a harper, composer, researcher, and sound artist from Belfast. She is the Rosamund Harding Research Fellow in Music at Newnham College, University of Cambridge. Though steeped in Irish traditional music she also works with experimental music, improvised music, and with live electronics.

Úna has a unique way of creating music - as well as being extremely accomplished on the harp, she is well versed in music technology and has built patches in Max MSP software which interact with the harp to create new sounds. She also wears a sensor on her hand which controls aspects of the software. Join her for this fascinating talk and demonstration, as she explains the mystery of electronics and traditional music.

Dancing workshop for all ages and abilities with two of Ulster's leading exponents Berni Corr & Bernie Graham. This workshop offers an introductory session to the rhythms of traditional music. Let your feet feel the beat of traditional Irish and Scottish tunes, broaden your enjoyment and perception of their rhythms. Suitable for all ages, no experience needed.

The Fiddle Clinic is aimed primarily at intermediate to advanced players who have a repertoire of tunes and who are able to identify an issue with their playing – it’s not necessarily about learning how to do something for the first time. So, if you’ve been trying to play rolls for ages but know there is something missing then YES, the fiddle clinic is for you. (Maximum of 6 - First come first served basis)

Arrangements in Traditional Music with Seamie O Dowd & Brian McGrath - Workshop participants will get the rare opportunity to work with two of traditional Irish music’s most iconic and dynamic musicians.

Learn to make Uilleann pipe reeds with one of the world’s top reed and pipemakers. In this two day course you will gain hands on experience of making a reed from start to finish. All tools and materials provided.

How to compose a tune with one of Ireland's finest tune composers Paddy Davey

Paddy Davey is a renowned composer of traditional tunes and his compositions have been recorded by numerous traditional artists. Join him in exploring the art of composition, and learning to produce new material of one’s own in the traditional Irish idiom.

Learn to make Uilleann pipe reeds with one of the world’s top reed and pipemakers. In this two day course you will gain hands on experience of making a reed from start to finish. All tools and materials provided.

‘Maggie Pickens'- This workshop provides an introduction to this style of dance, with simple yet fun patterns of steps.

A traditional old style dance from the north of Ireland, Maggie Pickens is known to have been danced and taught down through the years by dance masters throughout Ulster. Suitable for all ages and abilities with two of Ulster's leading exponents Berni Corr & Bernie Graham